Objective: To determine the ability of uVDBP to discern SRNS from steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) in Iraqi children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled children with SRNS (n=31) and SSNS (n=32) from the pediatric nephrology clinic of Babylon Hospital for Maternity and Pediatrics over three months. Patients' characteristics in terms of demographics, clinical data, and urinary investigations were collected. Quantitative analysis of uVDBP levels was undertaken via a commercially available ELISA kit. Results: The median uVDBP values were significantly higher (p-value<0.001) in the SRNS group (median=10.26, IQR=5.91 μg/mL) than in the SSNS group (median=0.953, IQR=4.12 μg/mL). A negative correlation was noted between uVDBP levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (Spearman's rho coefficient= − 0.494, p=0.001). Nevertheless, the rise in uVDBP concentrations was still considerable in children with SRNS whose eGFR measurements were above 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The study revealed a good discriminatory power for uVDBP as a predicting parameter to distinguish SRNS from SSNS (AUC= 0.909, p<0.0001. The optimal uVDBP cut-off value of 5.781 μg/mL was associated with a sensitivity of 0.839 and specificity of 0.844 to differentiate SRNS from SSNS. Conclusion: Considering its significant discriminatory strength, uVDBP can be considered as a potential marker to noninvasively distinguish children with SRNS from those with SSNS.
Background and Aim: Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is a highly contagious virus that infects wild and domestic canines. Despite the use of a routine vaccination protocol, it is endemic in Iraq. The genetic drift of CPV-2 is a major issue worldwide because it abrogates virus control. In Iraq, there is a knowledge gap regarding the genetic sequences of asymptomatic and symptomatic CPV-2 cases. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a genetic analysis of viral capsid protein 1 (VP1) and viral capsid protein 2 (VP2), two major capsid-encoding genes, to demonstrate the possible role of certain mutations in triggering infection. Materials and Methods: Symptomatic and asymptomatic cases (n = 100/each) were tested by a polymerase chain reacti
... Show MoreInformation pollution is regarded as a big problem facing journalists working in the editing section, whereby journalistic materials face such pollution through their way across the editing pyramid. This research is an attempt to define the concept of journalistic information pollution, and what are the causes and sources of this pollution. The research applied the descriptive research method to achieve its objectives. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The findings indicate that journalists are aware of the existence of information pollution in journalism, and this pollution has its causes and resources.
Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are an effective method for separating enantiomeric compounds. The main objective of this research is to synthesize D-arabinitol MIPs, which can selectively separate D-arabinitol and its potential application to differentiate it from its enantiomer compound through a non-covalent approach. A macroporous polymer was synthesized using D-arabinitol as a template, acrylamide as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) being a cross-linker, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) being a porogen, as well as benzoyl peroxide being an initiator. After polymer synthesis, D-arabinitol was removed by a mixture of methanol and acetic acid (4:1, v/v). Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scan
... Show MoreThe genus Hafnia, a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, consists of Gram negative bacteria that are occasionally implicated in both intestinal and extraintestinal infections in human. This genus contains only a single species (Hafnia alvei). Methods The above bacterium was identified from 250 bacterial strains which were isolated from 220 urine samples of patients with urinary tract infection. Results One H. alvei strain was isolated from an elderly patient, and identified by conventional biochemical tests and API20E system at the first time in Iraq. Antimicrobial susceptibility test showed that this strain is sensitive to Cefotaxime, Ciprofluxacine, Chloramphenicol, Doxycycline and Trimethoprim-sulfamethaxzole, while it is resistant t
... Show MoreThe present expermint was designed to determine the effect of Sodium Selenite (0.5 mg/kg) and Vitamin A (10 mg/kg) in FSH and LH level in Albino Male Mice treated with Hexavalent Chromium (1000 ppm). `This study included 48 mice divided into six groups (1st group treated with distilled water and the 2nd group treated with Sesame Oil were considered as control group, 3th group exposed to Hexavalent chromium , 4th group treated with Sodium Selenite and exposed to Hexavalent Chromium , 5th group treated with Vitamin A and exposed to Hexavalent Chromium and 6th group treated with Sodium Selenite and Vitamin A and exposed to Hexavalent Chromium ) . The treatment lasted for 35 days. The results showed a significant (P ? 0.05) decrease in FSH an
... Show MoreSkin drug administration is the method used to provide drugs for local or systemic therapy, which is recognized for clinical usage. It is the third-largest method of medication delivery, after only intravenous administration and oral administration. Using a transdermal delivery method makes the administration easy, and blood concentration and adverse effects can be reduced. A microneedle is a micron-sized needle with a short height of no more than 500 micrometers and a width of no more than 50 micrometers. The needle comes into contact with the epidermal layer of the skin before it gets to the dermal layer, where there is no discomfort. Several materials, such as metals, inorganic, and polymer materials, are used to create microneed
... Show MoreThis research aims to clarify the conceptual framework of social entrepreneurship shows the importance of the development of social entrepreneurship according to the contextual aspects and the social value achieved from these works. It also identifies the degree of level of a sample of women entrepreneurs in Iraq for the extent of the relationship between social entrepreneurship and women's empowerment. It also explains the impact of entrepreneurial work in empowering women and the extent to which there are individual differences between the average scores of the sample members’ estimation of the level of social entrepreneurship according to social status, age group, educational qualification, and specialization according to the s
... Show MoreEpithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process comprising cellular and molecular events which result in cells shifting from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype. Periodontitis is a destructive chronic disease of the periodontium initiated in response to a dysbiotic microbiome, and dominated by Gram-negative bacteria in the subgingival niches accompanied by an aberrant immune response in susceptible subjects. Both EMT and periodontitis share common risk factors and drivers, including Gram-negative bacteria, excess inflammatory cytokine production, smoking, oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus. In addition, periodontitis is characterized by down-regulation of key epithelial markers such as E-cadherin together with up-regulation of
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